Interaction between user-interface and master controller

1. A method for controlling an interaction between a user interface of a teleoperated surgical system and an input device of the teleoperated surgical system, the method comprising:

displaying on a display system in a two-dimensional user interface state, a user interface screen including a viewing plane and a pointer;

restricting movement of the input device based on a state of the user interface to control the pointer, when the user interface is in the two-dimensional user interface state, to a haptic shape oriented in space to approximate the viewing plane;

displaying on the display system in a virtual three-dimensional user interface state, a surgical site and a surgical instrument;

enabling movement of the input device based on the state of the user interface, when the user interface is in the virtual three-dimensional user interface state, to move in three-dimensions to manipulate the surgical instrument within the surgical site; and

transitioning the user interface between the virtual three-dimensional user interface state and the two-dimensional user interface state.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the haptic shape includes a haptic plane that is bounded to approximate a viewing area of the viewing plane;

wherein restricting the movement of the input device comprises restricting the input device to movement within the haptic plane.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

providing haptic feedback to the input device in response to the pointer within the user interface controlled by the input device approaching an edge of the user interface in the two-dimensional user interface state.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the haptic shape includes a haptic plane and the user interface in the two-dimensional user interface state comprises the pointer in the user interface hovering over a clickable element in the haptic plane of the user interface; and

wherein restricting the movement of the input device comprises restricting movement of the input device to decrease movement of the pointer while over the clickable element.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein to decrease movement comprises momentarily stopping the pointer while over the clickable element.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the input device comprises a pincher formation; and

while the pointer is over the clickable element, determining that the input device is about to be actuated to produce a click by detecting a change in position of a pincher formation of the input device.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the pointer movement is decreased as a function of the change in position of the pincher formation.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the pointer movement is decreased as a function of the change in position of the input device with respect to the haptic plane.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the state of the user interface comprises presenting a default user interface control option in the user interface; and

wherein restricting the movement of the input device comprises restricting movement of the input device except in a direction of the default user interface control option.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein restricting movement of the input device except in the direction of the default user interface control option comprises:

providing haptic feedback to the input device to nudge the input device to a position in space corresponding to the default user interface control option.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein restricting movement of the input device except in the direction of the default user interface control option comprises:

providing haptic feedback to resist movement of the input device to move the input device away from a position of the default user interface control option.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for controlling an interaction between a user-interface of a teleoperated surgical system and an input device of the teleoperated surgical system, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:

displaying on a display system in a two-dimensional user interface state, a user interface screen including a viewing plane and a pointer;

constraining movement of the input device based on a state of the user interface to control the pointer, when the user interface is in the two-dimensional user interface state, to a haptic shape oriented in space to approximate the viewing plane;

displaying on the display system in a virtual three-dimensional user interface state, a surgical site and a surgical instrument;

enabling movement of the input device based on the state of the user interface, when the user interface is in the virtual three-dimensional user interface state, to move in three-dimensions to manipulate the surgical instrument within the surgical site; and

transitioning the user interface between the virtual three-dimensional user interface state and the two-dimensional user interface state.

13. A system to control interaction between a user-interface of a teleoperated surgical system and an input device of the teleoperated surgical system, the system comprising:

a first master controller communicatively coupled to the teleoperated surgical system;

a feedback control communicatively coupled to the first master controller; and

a display device communicatively coupled to the teleoperated surgical system and configured to display the user interface;

wherein the display system is configured to display in a two-dimensional user interface state, a user interface screen including a viewing plane and a pointer;

wherein the display system is configured to display on the display system in a three-dimensional user interface state, a surgical site and a surgical instrument;

wherein the feedback control is configured to:

restrict movement of the first master controller based on a state of the user interface to control the pointer, when the user interface is in the two-dimensional user interface state to a haptic shape oriented in space to approximate the viewing plane;

wherein the first master controller is configured to,

enable movement of the first master controller based on the state of the user interface, when the user interface is in the three-dimensional user interface state to move in three-dimensions to manipulate the surgical instrument within the surgical site; and

wherein the display device is configured to transition the user interface between the virtual three-dimensional user interface state and the two-dimensional user interface state.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the haptic shape includes a haptic plane that is bounded to approximate a viewing area of the viewing plane; and

wherein the feedback control is configured to restrict the movement of the first master controller, the feedback control is configured to restrict the first master controller to movement in a haptic plane.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the feedback control is configured to:

provide haptic feedback to the first master controller in response to the pointer within the user interface controlled by the input device approaching an edge of the user interface in the two-dimensional user interface state.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the haptic shape includes a haptic plane and user interface of the two-dimensional user interface state comprises the pointer in the user interface hovering over a clickable element in the haptic plane of the user interface; and

wherein to restrict the movement of the first master controller, the feedback control is configured to restrict movement of the first master controller to decrease movement of the pointer while over the clickable element.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein to decrease movement comprises momentarily stopping the pointer while over the clickable element.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first master controller comprises a pincher formation; and

wherein the feedback control is configured to determine that the first master controller is about to be actuated to produce the click by detecting a change in position of the pincher formation.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the feedback control is configured to determine that the first master controller is about to be actuated to produce a click by detecting a change in position of the first master controller orthogonal to the haptic plane while the pointer is over the clickable element.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the pointer movement is decreased as a function of the change in position of the first master controller with respect to the haptic plane.

21. The system of claim 13 , wherein the state of the user interface comprises presenting a. default user interface control option in the user interface; and

wherein to restrict the movement of the first master controller, the feedback control is configured to restrict movement of the first master controller except in a direction of the default user interface control option.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein to restrict movement of the first master controller except in the direction of the default user interface control option, the feedback control is configured to provide haptic feedback to the first master controller to nudge the first master controller to a position in space corresponding to the default user interface control option.

23. The system of claim 21 , wherein to restrict movement of the first master controller except in the direction of the default user interface control option, the feedback control is configured to provide haptic feedback to resist movement of the first master controller to move the first master controller away from the position of the default user interface control option.